A Note from Gabriel
On presence, my dad, and remembering why we do this.
As summer begins to wind down, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about presence.
This has still been an incredibly busy season for us at On The Pass. We’ve been deep in client work, producing stories, having conversations and continuing to build this thing that started nearly seven years ago.
But this summer felt different.
Instead of constantly moving, I spent much of June, July and August closer to home—exploring California, reconnecting with friends and most importantly, spending more time with my family.
A few weeks ago, I had business in San Francisco and was able to fit in dinner at Californios, Val Cantú’s extraordinary three-Michelin-star restaurant.
But what made the evening special wasn’t necessarily the three stars. It was that I brought my dad.
My father is a retired police chief with over 40 years of experience. He spent much of his career in a completely different world, and I certainly didn't grow up experiencing restaurants like Californios.
Today, I’m fortunate to travel the world and spend time with some of the most talented and inspiring chefs and hospitality leaders anywhere. Extraordinary hospitality experiences have become a meaningful part of my life and my work.
But bringing my dad into that world with me was different.
His extended family is from Mexico, which made experiencing Val’s deeply personal expression of Mexican cuisine together even more meaningful. But what I remember most wasn't any particular dish (although they were extraordinary).
I remember watching my dad experience the artistry and choreography of a restaurant of that calibre for the first time. I remember the smiles from the Californios team and the warmth of the room. Their generosity and excitement for this special moment we were spending together. And of course the conversations between us.
I was reminded that there’s a difference between documenting a moment and actually being inside of one.
For once, I wasn't thinking about the story. I was just there.
A few days later, we did it again—this time at Enclos in Sonoma (which recently won three-Michelin-stars) with Chef Brian Limoges, who joined me on the podcast earlier this year.
Within the span of a week, my dad went from never having experienced a three-Michelin-star restaurant to dining at two of them. When I sent Brian a photo of him at the table, he joked that my dad looked pretty comfortable, like he'd done this before.
He wasn't wrong.
And somewhere between those two meals, something clicked for me.
We spend a lot of time at On The Pass celebrating excellence—the craft, discipline, obsession and dedication required to create something truly great. I remain endlessly inspired by it.
But underneath my love for this industry and its people is something much simpler: A love of human connection.
It's why hospitality matters to me in the first place. The greatest restaurants understand that. The food can be (and often is) extraordinary, the room beautiful, the technique flawless—but ultimately, what stays with us is how we felt, who we were with and the memories we carry home.
And maybe that's what my dad reminded me of this summer.
I've spent nearly seven years helping tell other people's stories. It is one of the great privileges of my life. But sometimes, when you spend your life documenting experiences, it's easy to forget to simply experience them.
Don't become so consumed with creating the story that you forget to live it.
This summer reminded me to be present. To spend time with the people I love. To appreciate this remarkable hospitality community that has welcomed me into its world. And to remember that behind every restaurant, every chef, every story and every experience are people.
Human beings connecting with other human beings.
As we begin this new chapter with Notes From The Pass, that feels like the right place to start.
For nearly seven years, this community has given us so much.
My commitment is to keep pouring that back—with curiosity, love and intention.
— Gabriel Ornelas
The Magic of Mexico City
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing some of the world’s great food cities, often through the people helping shape their culture. Mexico City holds a particularly special place for me. My relationship with the city began in 2005, when I lived just 50 miles south in Cuernavaca, and I’ve watched it evolve into one of the most exciting culinary and cultural destinations in the world.
On a recent trip, we had the distinct pleasure of experiencing the city alongside Chef Jorge Vallejo (Quintonil: #3 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list) and his wife, Ale, who shared their Mexico City with us with an incredible sense of pride and generosity. This list is part their perspective, part my own journey—a collection of places we love and believe tell a small piece of the story of this extraordinary city. Save it, explore it, and hopefully make a few memories of your own!
Discover our full list HERE
Twenty Years of Belief!
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of heading down to San Diego to celebrate 20 years of Addison with Chef William Bradley, his family, his team, and so many friends from the hospitality community. There was Champagne, beautiful bites from the Addison team, and chefs like Josiah Citrin of Mélisse and Michael Cimarusti of Providence cooking alongside them—but what stayed with me most was the joy in the room. This wasn’t simply a celebration of accolades or longevity. It was a celebration of belief!
When William and I sat down for our On The Pass episode, he spoke about how many people questioned whether his vision could work in San Diego. Twenty years later, Addison has become a destination, and William has helped make a powerful case for what California and San Diego fine dining can be. To witness what two decades of dedication, discipline, evolution, and an unwavering belief in yourself can create was incredibly moving. Great things rarely happen overnight—but when something is pursued with passion and integrity, the journey itself becomes worth celebrating.
All my love and congratulations to William and the entire Addison family. And if you’re making the trip down, I stayed at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe—a lovely retreat just a short drive from Addison and a beautiful way to make a weekend of it.
